Encompassing Women: Book Four of the Encompassing Series

by Richard Lord

  “You do realize that my daughter is going to want to see you before you leave. She loves you Renfield.” As Christina speaks her mind starts to trail off in the moment.

  Renfield reaches for her hair and whispers in her ear, “She’s just going to try to stop me. Just be sure to tell her how much I love her and that I will be back to keep my promise to her.”

  Christina moans as she says, “I wish I could have you all to myself. It’s strange to share you with her, but I knew you knew her long before you knew me.”

  Renfield stops and looks at Christina. “So you understand?”

  “No. I accept. Don’t stop!” Christina pulls at him.

  CHAPTER 11

  “When I realized what my daughter had done, I was proud of her. When I realized what that meant for the future, I was proud of her father.” – from the Book of Amelia

  As Illumna reappeared, Destiny and Amelia wiped the multiple types of mists off of each other and helped each other up.

  Amelia notes she couldn’t hear Harmony’s mind. She knew that Harmony often shut her mind off to them. She knew Harmony was angry at what had just transpired.

  As they approached the hatch Amelia got a strange feeling. She opened the hatch quickly and realized Harmony was not in it.

  “Illumna! Where is my daughter!” Amelia screamed out in panic.

  Destiny was trailing behind, but she clicked inside to loo. She looked in the place where Amelia had stowed away. Harmony was truly not there. “Illumna, what’s going on?”

  Illumna considers how to answer. “Harmony and Stanley have a son. You’re a grandmother now, Amelia. She won’t mind a visit if you want me to take you there.”

  Destiny nods.

  Amelia screams at Illumna as she backs away, “Stanley? Your brother?”

  Illumna responds, “Apparently that was going on for awhile. She is very much in love with him and vice versa. They do fit together well in their personalities.”

  Amelia yells, “You didn’t tell me before you did all of this?”

  Destiny grabs Amelia’s shoulder and twists her around. “Illumna didn’t do anything! She took care of your daughter and your daughter is happy. Why can’t you be happy about that?”

  Amelia immediately punches Destiny in the face. Destiny decides not to react. Amelia continues her rant, “You fucking Renfields!”

  Destiny grabs her arm as Amelia is about to click. “Don’t, please.”

  Amelia reaches out to Destiny who takes her in her arms and Amelia begins to cry as the two again touch their lips together for comfort.

  Illumna cuts in and says, “So we established ourselves there. We can go there or we can go see Harmony and her family.”

  She gets no response, as she suspected they ignore her for a while.

  After a long time Amelia pushes Destiny from her and stands. She grabs Destiny’s face in her hand and stares into her eyes. So different from her own and yet so welcoming. “I want to see my daughter, Illumna, let’s go.”

  Destiny wipes at her own thigh as she rises and begins to put on her gear again.

  Arriving Illumna states, “You will have to go the rest of the way on foot. They live in that apartment building. You’ll hear her as you get close. I don’t know the apartment number. I’ve never been able to get that close, for obvious reasons.”

  Destiny looks at Amelia while holding her hand. “Do you want to go alone or do you want me to go with you?”

  Amelia pulls Destiny’s hand and places it on her own buttocks while exiting the hatch. She doesn’t let go, her hand squeezes tight around Destiny’s hand.

  Destiny twists her wrist to grasp Amelia and turns her quickly to face her. “Just remember, she’s happy. So don’t get your panties in a bunch.”

  Amelia calms for a moment and then replies, “Neither of us have the luxury of panties.”

  They both laugh as Amelia pulls Destiny towards the apartment building. As they approach, Destiny can hear Amelia’s thoughts race and she is aware of how large the strides are that Amelia is making as she traverses the ground they are to cover. Then surprisingly Harmony appears in front of them with a young child in her arms.

  “Hi, Mom.” Harmony says as if it hasn’t been a year for her. She holds out the child in her arms, “This is Michael.”

  Amelia reaches out and takes the boy while reaching to put her arm around her daughter while they both take in his smile. She listens to her daughter’s mind and realizes it is calmer and more at peace than ever. She looks at Destiny and Destiny nods back at her and moves in to hug her the two of them from behind while looking at Michael’s face as he drools on himself.

  Feeling a bit awkward, Destiny says, “So, do you still hate Renfields?”

  They both turn to her and in unison reply, “Hell yes!”

  Destiny laughs. Amelia and Harmony look at each other trying to remember if they have ever heard Destiny laugh. Amelia thinks to her daughter, “She’s got passion, but you would never know it.”

  Harmony looks back to her mother and thinks, “That’s for you to know and me not to care about. She’s different, Mom. But I am guessing you love her. It’s all over your face.”

  Destiny replies, “I care for Amelia very deeply. We…” She pauses, “Have grown into each other.”

  Harmony wipes the drool from Michael’s face and says, “I kinda noticed. How long has it been for the two of you?”

  Both Amelia and Destiny laugh. Destiny answers, “Hours. But they were good ones.”

  Amelia reaches her hand over her shoulder and pulls Destiny in for a quick kiss. Then she says, “I’m still going to find another husband. But I’m going to stay by Destiny.”

  Destiny nods as Stanley appears. He announces himself by saying, “So this is my sister?” He motions towards the skycrawler.

  Amelia says, “You should talk to her.”

  Stanley responds, “And you’re Amelia the one who…” He stops himself and then says, “The one who fell in love with Destiny.” Stanley turns his eyes to Destiny and says, “I’m happy to finally meet you.” His mind goes off somewhere else as he concentrates on her eyes for a moment. “You’re a legend.” He motions for Harmony to hand him Michael. Harmony hands knows his thoughts even before she can hear them and hands Michael to him and then he vanishes.

  “Your husband is, interesting.” Destiny notes.

  “He’s a Renfield.” Harmony replies.

  “And a pervert from what we heard in Illumna’s mind.” Amelia comments.

  “Yeah, I kind of thought a lot of things out to her. That’s what I like about him.” Harmony shoots back.

  Amelia says, “Well I guess it’s too late for the protection talk I was planning on having with you someday.”

  “Mom, we’re married.” Harmony looks at her mother realizing that her mother’s comment was defensive. “Plus you know that all the Renfields are perverted as much as I know that.” She motions with her head towards Destiny.

  Destiny nods while sliding her hand between Amelia’s thighs, out of sight.

  “Right now she has her hand moving towards your crotch. Dirty girl!” Harmony states.

  Amelia looks embarrassed but doesn’t turn to stop Destiny. But she says, “That’s…” Her mind trails off for a moment. She is caught between this moment of talking to her daughter and the sensations her body is going through. She’s not sure what reaction is appropriate and begins to care less and less as the feelings intensify. She can hear Destiny’s mind. As she realizes Amelia can hear their thoughts too, she looks over at Illumna, Stanley and Michael and sees something approach them. She thinks as hard as she can to all of them, “Get down!” She knows Illumna can’t avoid the thing, but she also realizes that it is not a threat to Illumna. She clicks. Her fist slams hard into its chest, but it has no effect. It swipes at her and knocks her down.

  As it grabs Amelia’s throat Destiny attacks from behind while thinking to Harmony, “When are we?”

  Harmony click
s, but doesn’t think back. She moves in low. Stanley puts Michael down inside Illumna ad pulls a pistol. He fires at the one spot the girls aren’t blocking, but he knows it’s not going to be enough. The Hunter turns towards Stanley, then reaches down on the ground and takes a huge bite out of Amelia. As if to make a point. He throws Amelia’s body to the ground and leaps at Stanley. He fires again. The Hunter rolls as the bullet goes through him and then looks inside Illumna and grabs Michael and in a moment Michael is crushed in its hand. Then it moves quickly, grabs Stanley by his hair, pushes his head back to reveal his jugular and bites in hard as the pistol goes off one last time into its head.

  Harmony screams in horror. Destiny moves quickly to pick up the pistol and fire the remaining three times into the Hunter’s head.

  She kneels at Amelia’s body. She can hear Harmony wailing, but she has no idea how to comfort her after losing her family. She begins to cry and then asks Illumna, “When are we?”

  Illumna answers, “Those things shouldn’t be here. It doesn’t make sense.”

  “It does if someone brought it here.” Destiny picks up Amelia’s body. She carries her and puts her body inside Illumna and to Harmony. She wants to say or do something, but she can’t imagine what she could do, say or even think.

  After some time she thinks directly to Illumna as she pushes Harmony into her. They look out of the hatch at a vineyard. “Here they can still bear fruit.” Destiny says. “When you are ready, I will help. For now I will dig.”

  Harmony looks at Destiny. “Nothing can make this right. I can change it.”

  Destiny knew that was coming. “Don’t. It’s not a smart thing to do and you and I both know it.” She peers at Harmony knowing she can traverse time, but usually doesn’t. She understands the emotions causing Harmony to consider the move. She had already considered it, for a brief moment, herself. “Harmony, you know I don’t even know what to say, but don’t do that.” As Destiny begins to leave the hatch, her knees go weak and she falls. Harmony runs out to her and picks her up off the ground.

  “Are you okay? I can’t lose you too.” She wipes the dirt from Destiny’s face.

  Destiny looks up and tries to laugh, but her energy is sapped by the emotions. “Harmony. You don’t even like me.”

  “Neither did my mother but she saw something decent about you.” Harmony responds. Then she continues, “I don’t want to bury my child. I will help you bury my mother and my husband.”

  Destiny, still staring up at her, while laying in place says, “Your strong Harmony. Apparently stronger than I.”

  “You loved my mother and she you. If you two only had a few hours to show that to each other, I’m sure you are hurt. I saw in her face, she really loved you.” Harmony lays Destiny’s head down and goes to the place her mother once stowed away. She finds Phillip’s pickaxe. She returns to see Destiny waling to a spot and try her shovel. She clicks next to her and says, “I knew you were going to need help.”

  Destiny turns to her and says, “You don’t have to do this right now.”

  “What else can I do? Let’s deal with this.”

  “Okay, well clearly I hot a rock. This is probably the worst tended vineyard in history!” Destiny laughs.

  “Maybe that’s why your grandfather liked it. Maybe he likes things to be the way they are meant to be.” Harmony responds.

  “How did you know this was one of his spots?” Destiny looks at her.

  “You aren’t quite when you are thinking that hard, Destiny.”

  Destiny comments, “If he wanted things the way they were meant to be, why did he traverse time so much to try to patch it to be his way?”

  “You know the answer to that, Destiny. It’s why you’re on this completely horrid journey. You know the ending. You may not know all of the details, but you know how it all ends.” Harmony swings the pickaxe hard at the rock and it shatters as it gives way to the pressure and it’s many pieces re-assimilate into the earth.

  CHAPTER 12

  “I left a journal knowing my daughter would find it. She is tasked with growing quickly and making things right.” – from the Book of Amelia

  “So what is going to try to kill us here, Harmony?” Destiny comments while looking out the hatch door.

  Illumna thinks to Destiny, “Nothing has killed you yet, stop worrying.”

  Destiny thinks back, “I like to know what’s coming.”

  Harmony looks at her and removes her helm while tossing out her hair. “Like I said, you’re the only one of us who knows what happens in the long run. I don’t know what calls me to places. You have stayed and now I’m back, so don’t whine about it the whole time.”

  Destiny looks at her with appreciation for her strength, but sarcastically says, “Yes, ma’am.”

  They disembark and immediately both of them look into the sky. Harmony turns to Destiny and notes, “It’s blue!”

  Destiny doesn’t get her hopes up. She scans the ground and then notes back to Harmony, “The soil is pretty red.” She can hear Harmony sigh.

  Illumna paying attention to the stars adds in, “This isn’t Earth, if that’s what you two were thinking.”

  Destiny looks back up and notices the second moon and the fact that the clouds are yellow. “Okay, so what do we do wait for an attack from some other creature?” As soon as she said it, she wishes she could take the statement back. She looks at Harmony who seems to have ignored it.

  Harmony says, “What are these in the ground?”

  Destiny looks down at her feet and then jumps back into the hatch. “Harmony, get in here, their everywhere!” She watches the worm like creatures ascend from the ground and then go back into it. She looks at them with trepidation as to what they are looking for. She’s certain they are ground dwellers given their form, so why are they rising up?

  Harmony stands in place and looks back to Destiny, “You can’t hear them?”

  Destiny shouts, “Get in here, we’ll talk about it in here!” But she sees the look on Harmony’s face and knows she isn’t going to come in. She considers clicking to her and grabbing her.

  Illumna thinks to her, “Let her be. She has a sense. If something happens, act. But give her a chance.”

  Destiny thinks to Illumna, “If I wait until something happens, I may not be able to correct the problem.” Then she tilts her head with a thought and asks Illumna, “Do you hear them?”

  “No. I don’t know what she is talking about. I believe in her.” Illumna states.

  “You do know I already thought she was insane before she lost her whole family right in front of her face. I’m not so sure about her stability now.” Destiny clicks next to Harmony and whispers, “Okay, I’ll stand by you, but don’t you dare get us killed!”

  “I think they can click in tandem, Destiny. I have to guide them in time.”

  “Harmony, where are you taking them? If they learn time who knows what they could do.” Destiny begins to squirm a bit at the thoughts of the things that could go so horribly wrong.

  “If I guide them, they don’t need to learn time.” Harmony responds.

  Destiny hears the rest of Harmony’s thoughts as she opens her mind. “No, you can’t possibly be thinking of taking them to Earth! Plus, how could you travel then? There is no way to do that since Stephen.”

  “We don’t need to do that. We need to go back to your mother. She’s been there and we can tandem from her.” Harmony lays out her plan.

  “How could my mother have been there?” Then Destiny remembers something her mother once thought. “Okay, let’s go find Joy. You know I don’t like asking my mother for favors.”

  “At least you still have a mother to ask for favors.” Harmony responds.

  Destiny ignores the comment because she understands she should not have made the statement. “How many are there and how do we get them all inside Illumna?”

  Then they seem to disappear. Harmony thinks to her while pointing into the hatch, “That’s enough of them. They
work on a hive mind principle.”

  Instantly Destiny knows what she means and what she is point at, but she turns to verify her suspicion anyway, then back to Harmony. “Oh hell no! I was thinking jars or something along those lines, not that!” She considers clicking somewhere else, but she knows she doesn’t know the stars as well as Illumna. She’s become aware Illumna is the one who does the guidance based off of Harmony’s thoughts. “Damn it Harmony, you’re insane! That looks hellish!”

  “Like I said, you’ve stayed. Cuddle up with them. It’s not going to be very long anyway.” Harmony smiles a bit, but tries to hide it from Destiny.

  “Hi, Mom. How have things been. I’m going to take a shower for at least an hour. This is Harmony. She’ll explain what she needs. Then I will have to take another shower, so I hope you have kept the hot water up.” Destiny walks past her mother without a hug of greeting.

  Joy responds, “Okay, I’ve got it. Let’s go. That way you don’t have to take another shower and I can keep some of my hot water.”

  Destiny looks surprised, but capitulates just to get it over with. They all walk to the hatch. Joy holds her nose and thinks to Illumna, “Hey sis.”

  “How are you, Joy?” Illumna thinks back.

  “Well, until now. That’s rather disgusting. How are you holding up?” Joy asks.

  “It’s been interesting. How is your husband?” Illumna asks in return.

  “He’s out at sea, as usual. He’ll return with more calloused hands, but some good eating. Although I prefer our mother’s favorite, cow.” Joy laughs.

  “She still calls it that?” Illumna mentally laughs to Joy.

  “Oh yeah. She doesn’t change. Well besides the fact that she changes completely.” The two of them laugh together.

  Destiny huffs and looks at the slime on her skin. Harmony looks at Destiny and nods as she says, “Yeah, it’s all gross. I didn’t say it would be easy.”

  Destiny knows she is talking more about the sisters talking than the slime on their skin.

  Joy says to them, so how is this going to work. I noticed you two have suits. Do I need one? Also, you two were in there with that? How?” Then she looks at Destiny and laughs at her own statement. “Oh, this is going to suck, huh?”